Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-14
WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE.
We have not yet had time to examine
all the Acts in detail passed by the Legis-
lature and approved by the Governor, but
so far as our reading of the measures-so
many of which were passed in the last
hours of the session-has progressed, we
find there is much good and useful legisla-
ton to be credited to the Legislature. For
instance, arboriculture has been conserved,
an arbor day fixed upon, and the Forestry
Commission given money and power to
protect the growing timber in the State
and to encourage tree planting. The State
Board of Health has been given needed
power to erect barriers against the intro
duction of contagious and infectious dis
eases, and has already gone TO work with
viii under the new law.
The State University has been taken
from its knees and put upon the pay roll
as a rate receiver, is made Independent of
legislative lobbying, and given the charac-
ter and standing it deserves. The bill to
prohibit the sending of messenger boys to
bawdy houses and sinks Of iniquity pre-
vailed.
The Veteran Home bill and the bill for
the Home for Predetermined Children
passed; attention was given to needed re-
pairs to State property; the organized
militia received the consideration OF the
Legislature and most of its petitions were
granted. A desirable constitutional amend
ment concerning the reformation of the
Supreme Court was ordered to be submit
ted several needed amendments were
made to the Codes The label and stamp
bill was killed, righteously so; but the
bill to prevent false stamping of goods was
properly passed The State Board of Ex-
aminers was given a Secretary, which will
enable it better and more speedily to
transact the business of the Board. The
agricultural societies received fair appro-
priations and encouragement. A new
Normal School was ordered to be estab-
lished, in response to the quite unani-
nous desire of the people of Northern
California The fish laws received an
Important addition in the Act authorizing
the licensing of fishing boats and the re-
vocation of the license for violation of the
laws for the protection of food fish. The
mineral cabinet was removed from the
Capitol and placed in charge of the city
of Sacramento, and thus the room for the
State Library rendered available.
An important Act is that providing the
necessary machinery to enable persons, by
gift, or will, or trust deed, to establish and
provide for the maintenance of public
Libraries, museums, art galleries, etc, for
the diffusion of mechanical, scientific and
artistic general knowledge.
The bill providing for the distribution
of the State school-books and the further
issuing of the series, though for time en-
dangered, became law.
An Act concerning the organization of
irrigation districts was passed, and puts
upon the experimental plane most i'm
portant matter. 1t was not precisely what
we hoped for, but it at least will, By expert
ments made under it, enlighten the public,
and thus advance the State nearer
to a complete and general irrigation
system The bill to punish dynamiters be-
came law, and is significant of the senti-
meut Of the people of California concern
ing those who propose to inject bombs into
our political and social system as means for
the settlement of issues. Both Sacra-
mento and San Francisco were given new
liberty in the matter of local government,
tending to the economy of the administra-
ton of local affairs These and other
bills viii 90 to the credit of the Legisla-
ture, while the defeat of the debris dam
bills, the Telegraph Hill iDfamy and some
other bad measures are to be also credited
On the other hand not few meritorious
measures suffered defeat, as the prison re-
form bill, the Commission Of Charities,
the anti-lottery bill and some Others.
THE TIME HAS COME FOR ACTION.
We should not lose single day more in
arranging Tor the active, persistent effort
thar must be made to promote the aboom,'
the first strong premonitions of which this
section of the State is beginning to feel
Our citizen associations and immigrant and
trade organizations should take the lead,
and at once. As the San Francisco Alta
says: " It is not in the nature of things for
any county in California to fail of success
in any persistent effort to attract settlers"
But that persistent effort must have be-
ginning. All that We have thus far done
in Sacramento has been but preparatory.
1--we do not wish to see San Jose, Stockton
and other places outstrip us, we must be up
and doing, and speedily and energetically.
This means not talk only not resolu-
tons only; not free advertising by the
press only; not citrus and State and local
fairs alone; nor immigrant agencies only;